22

Recap what?

Well, it was a slow news day in Cubville. And, I’m blacked out tonight because, well, the only reason I can think of is that I’ve HEARD of Cincinnati. It sure as hell isn’t close. Rob Manfred has a birthday coming up – maybe I’ll send him a map.

The LLWS has been outstanding – I love watching the unbridled enthusiasm of the kids. Except for the occasional Mendoza sighting and the stand roving soccer mom (literally – don’t get on me for that. She’s literally a soccer mom. She played professional soccer, and she’s a mom, so shut it) it’s not that hard to watch. Actually? Foudy is pretty good – can’t blame her for ESPN’s stupidity. She’s personable and does a nice job of both talking and knowing when not to…which is the most important part of broadcasting, in my opinion. I don’t have a favorite team in the LLWS. EVERY kid that comes up is my new favorite. I do think they should move the fences back as these kids have outgrown the field in that respect (and don’t get me started on the bats they use.) I love watching them play defense, too. I like watching the team introductions, but don’t care at ALL about anyone’s favorite emoji.

Defense. Let’s use that as a segue. So, because the Cubs were not playing, and the stupid eclipse was over, I was flipping through games and trying to decide if any were worth watching…and ran into the Mets/Dbacks. I happened to get there a half minute before the snakes scored a run (which would be the only run until late in the game. The Mets are worse than the Cubs with RISP.) Anyway – ground single to left with a runner on second. Wilmer Flores is playing third. He heads to third on the ground ball (in case the shortstop can come up with the ball – which makes sense) and then stands on the bag and pretty much watches Cespedes throw home and NOT get the runner out. Ron Darling calls him out. Says that is an inexcusable mistake for a major league ballplayer. Once he recognized that the ball was through and no play was to be made at third, his job is to SPRINT to the point where he is between the ball and home plate. For two reasons – 1.) arms up – he’s a target. 2.) Cut-off. He didn’t. Darling said I hate to rag on the guy, but that is a bad play. Other broadcaster asks, is that why the throw was too high? Cespedes didn’t see the cut off man and had to try to make the throw all the way? Darling says “nope – that’s just a bad throw. That’s on Yoenis. And furthermore, a good first base coach should have sent the runner to second immediately when he noticed that Flores wasn’t in position. If it can’t be cut, he can’t get caught at second.” But this AZ coach didn’t notice. Then, they showed the entire play from a bird’s eye view, and he pointed out what he’d just said, and it was brilliant. It was a great baseball moment. And then I remembered Len and JD, and I wept. I’ll repeat what Raker has said numerous times: Cub Nation deserves better.

I don’t have a preview of today’s game, other than to say that John Lackey faces a guy named Homer. Let’s hope THAT’S not prophetic.

Stuff probably happened in the minor leagues, but I don’t care. Adbert got hit hard a couple of days ago, but they let him go ten days between starts so it’s probably management’s fault.

Lackey is facing Homer? I won’t make a bunch of Simpsons jokes, but I will say one thing: D’oh!

Doc Raker

When is the last time Len and or JD criticized a Cub when they did something wrong? I don’t listen to them so I would not know if it has ever happened. I know I have never heard it happen when I did listen to them.

I really appreciate the conversation about the different broadcasters. The broadcast team is a big part of the entertainment value of the game and when a broadcaster thinks like me it makes the game more enjoyable. Because after all baseball is a cerebral game, it is a game of ‘what do we throw this pitch’ and ‘what does our defense do now’ and ‘what will he throw me now’. Len and JD have none of those thoughts within their broadcast so what good are they to a fan who thinks the game?

Cub Nation Deserves Better

Kyle

Lackey in Great American Home Run BallPark… I’ll start the over/under bidding on HR’s he gives up at 4.

Bryzzo1744

You need to put a half point on your line to avoid a push. Amend the line and then I’ll make a pick.

Jerry in Wisconsin

Quit pushing people around.

Kyle

Fixed. I’m obviously good at gambling 🙂

Bryzzo1744

4.5 I’ll take the under because he’ll get pulled after the 4th round tripper. 3.5 and I would have taken the over.

cap’n realist

Pretty sure your parents don’t want you gambling

Bryzzo1744

Sucks to that. I put $100 on Ohio State winning the national title. At 9-2, it’s pretty good odds

I loved the eclipse.
I love the LLWS. All of them, just like you said Sherm.
I too hate the introductions. Furthermore it seems like even the kids themselves hate them.
I love Eastern time zone games because I have at least a 30% chance of staying awake.
I had a crush on Ron Darling when he pitched for the Mets.
I truly can’t stand Len and JD.

Doc Raker

At that point in the LL tournament they have been introduced 1000 times. The LL tournament starts in June all over the world with over 8000 teams, it has to be the largest tournament in the world. What we see in Williamsport is the final 16 teams out of the 8000. Pretty incredible.

cap’n realist

VERY similar play this weekend, where Rizzo was late to cut off a throw from Almora in CF. He slipped trying to get his feet where they should have already been, and threw slowly and wildly to the plate. Runner was safe. Platinum glove my eye. Len and JD didn’t seem bothered….and continued their discussion of the evening’s Better Than Ezra acoustic show in Evanston.

Jerry in Wisconsin

I think we need a baseball IQ meter for the Cubs broadcasts. It would be interesting to see how much knowledge of the game JD loses every time Len opens his mouth. We already know that Len’s meter is at zero.

Doc Raker

JD’s baseball IQ was pretty high when he was in Houston, it was one of the broadcasts I liked to tune into but with Len he has sunk to Len’s level. I was hoping JD would raise Len’s baseball IQ but it has been the opposite, JD plays down to Len’s of drivel.

No one should subject themselves to listening to Len if they have the means to avoid his broadcast.

Doug S.

Doc, the sacrifice you make by torturing through a Len broadcast to share his inane comments here for our entertainment is greatly appreciated.

So to paraphrase, Len is like one big Black Hole that sucks the baseball life out of people.

cap’n realist

Out of baseball fans. I think a lot of people in Chicago actually like the guy. These are the people that have the game on in the background, and don’t really watch or care about learning or the nuances of baseball. Fans of the local music scene love Len.

Bryzzo1744

His stage name should LL Lame L. Ladies Love Lame Len.

cap’n realist

I’m confused. I thought you had no use for ladies?

Bryzzo1744

Lame Len does though which is why LL Lame L is a good stage name for him.

Doc Raker

EXACTLY

Bryzzo1744

He shouldn’t have even cut it off. He should have let it go to home. The runner would have been out. I yelled HE’S OUT! at my TV on that until he cut it off

cap’n realist

You’re right about half the time when you yell that. So don’t ever stop.

Bryzzo1744

I would have been right had Rizzo not cut it off.

Eddie Von White

Because you’re good at reading the future?

Michael S.

Didn’t watch past the 3rd inning last night…wake up this morning and find that Rizzo was put over at 3rd after Bryant left.

Look at the box, see that Rivera went to catch, Avila went to 1st so that Rizzo could go to 3rd…the only left-handed thrower of the trio.

Look at career stats, Avila has at least played third base before–1 game, 8 innings! Neither of the other two have.

Look at the ESPN article, and Maddon was quoted thusly: “It was either Avila at third, which is no fun. Or Rizzo at third, Avila at first, which is fun. And that’s how we did it.”

FUN IS NOT THE TEST TO USE WHEN YOUR DECISION IS RIGHT-HANDER THAT’S AT LEAST PLAYED THERE BEFORE AND THE LEFTY WHO HASN’T! Especially not in LATE AUGUST WITH A SLIM DIVISION LEAD!

Thank heavens the Reds are the Reds and didn’t manage to hit it his way…

Jerry in Wisconsin

The Cubs had a seven run lead to start the inning. I was hoping to Rizzo get a ball hit to him, until the Reds made that a four run lead. I was amazed that no one tried to bunt the ball to third. That many runs down you do what you can to get on base. The Reds apparently made no effort to watch how the Cubs scored 13 runs without a home run.

Doc Raker

You needed to watch the last three innings in real time to understand what a shit show it was. If you have an extra 2 hours today go ahead and do it.

Eddie Von White

I think Raker has it wrong – Maddon is the one with the reptile brain.

Bryzzo1744

Here’s a better theory: Both of them have reptile brains!

Doug S.

Watched that in semi-disbelief. A year ago it would have been total disbelief. Next year it will be routine.

Ben

Segue is a very interesting word you used in this summary sherm and I’m shocked you did not use a single swear word when you wrote this up? You ok? Lol

Sherm

Give me time – I’m about to recap yesterday’s game…stay tuned.

Ben

Family blog sherm family blog….

And now shit is in the title no family blog anymore lol

Sherm

Oh, Ben. I don’t want to live in a world where shit is a bad word.

Jerry in Wisconsin

It does not matter what world you live in shit is definitely a smelly word.

Ben

It’s a real shitty world we live in and it stinks just like Joe maddons managing lol

Sherm

Words don’t smell. Unless you are using some strange “scratch and sniff” paper. I guess I am de-sensitized to language. I think that perfectly “clean” words can be used very hurtfully – and I’m 100% against that.